According to a study published in Toxicological Sciences, researchers found microplastics in all 23 human testes analyzed.
The scientists also studied 47 testes from pet dogs.
Every sample contained microplastic pollution.
“Researchers from the University of New Mexico found 12 types of microplastics in all 23 human testes studied,” Daily Mail reports.
NEW: Cancer-causing microplastics are found in 100% of men’s testicles in new study — Daily Mail
— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) May 20, 2024
The findings made the researchers question the impact of microplastics on the human reproductive system and male fertility.
Oxford Academic shared the study’s abstract:
The ubiquitous existence of microplastics and nanoplastics raises concerns about their potential impact on the human reproductive system. Limited data exists on microplastics within the human reproductive system and their potential consequences on sperm quality. Our objectives were to quantify and characterize the prevalence and composition of microplastics within both canine and human testes and investigate potential associations with the sperm count, and weights of testis and epididymis. Using advanced sensitive Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (Py-GC/MS), we quantified 12 types of microplastics within 47 canine and 23 human testes. Data on reproductive organ weights, and sperm count in dogs were collected. Statistical analyses, including descriptive analysis, correlational analysis, and multivariate linear regression analyses were applied to investigate the association of microplastics with reproductive functions. Our study revealed the presence of microplastics in all canine and human testes, with significant inter-individual variability. Mean total microplastic levels were 122.63 µg/g in dogs and 328.44 µg/g in humans. Both humans and canines exhibit relatively similar proportions of the major polymer types, with PE being dominant. Furthermore, a negative correlation between specific polymers such as PVC and PET and the normalized weight of the testis was observed. These findings highlight the pervasive presence of microplastics in the male reproductive system in both canine and human testes, with potential consequences on male fertility.
NEW: Researchers from the University of New Mexico found 12 types of microplastics in all 23 human testes studied.
Data has shown that sperm counts have decreased by 59 percent in the past few decades. pic.twitter.com/KBBZVjPoTu
— Global Dissident (@GlobalDiss) May 20, 2024
The highly pro-inflammatory and pervasive microplastics and nanoplastics: previously found in arteries and associated with increased in heart attacks and strokes, now in all human testes that were assessed. https://t.co/cGXxrrlwbn pic.twitter.com/pHXrvDsRqU
— Eric Topol (@EricTopol) May 20, 2024
Per Daily Mail:
Data has shown that sperm counts have decreased by 59 percent in the past few decades, with other culprits ranging from cell phones in pants pockets to vape pens.
‘We don’t want to scare people,’ the study’s lead author said. ‘We want to scientifically provide the data and make people aware.’
The team found that the most prevalent of the 12 microplastics was a polymer material, polyethylene, used in plastic bags and bottles.
The average human concentration was 329.44 micrograms per gram of tissue — vastly more than recent studies of human blood, which came to only tens of micrograms per gram.
Microplastics, smaller than five millimeters in length, enter our bodies through plastic packaging, certain food, tap water and even the air we breathe – and have been linked to cancer and fertility issues.
The scientists tested 23 human testes, as well as 47 testes from pet dogs. They found microplastic pollution in every sample.
I’m sure everything is fine.https://t.co/ngyaTHqSOp
— Jane van Dis MD 🌎 (@janevandis) May 20, 2024
Today’s most shared health story: microplastics have been found in human testicles – the discovery might be linked to declining sperm counts . Scientists tested 23 human testes and 47 from pet dogs. They found microplastic pollution in every sample. https://t.co/OVKJWksceR
— Global Action on Men’s Health (@Globalmenhealth) May 20, 2024
From The Guardian:
The human testicles had been preserved and so their sperm count could not be measured. However, the sperm count in the dogs’ testes could be assessed and was lower in samples with higher contamination with PVC. The study demonstrates a correlation but further research is needed to prove microplastics cause sperm counts to fall.
Sperm counts in men have been falling for decades, with chemical pollution such as pesticides implicated by many studies. Microplastics have also recently been discovered in human blood, placentas and breast milk, indicating widespread contamination of people’s bodies. The impact on health is as yet unknown but microplastics have been shown to cause damage to human cells in the laboratory.
Vast amounts of plastic waste are dumped in the environment and microplastics have polluted the entire planet, from the summit of Mount Everest to the deepest oceans. People are known to consume the tiny particles via food and water as well as breathing them in.
The particles could lodge in tissue and cause inflammation, as air pollution particles do, or chemicals in the plastics could cause harm. In March, doctors warned of potentially life-threatening effects after finding a substantially raised risk of stroke, heart attack and earlier death in people whose blood vessels were contaminated with microscopic plastics.
“At the beginning, I doubted whether microplastics could penetrate the reproductive system,” said Prof Xiaozhong Yu, at the University of New Mexico in the US. “When I first received the results for dogs I was surprised. I was even more surprised when I received the results for humans.”
The testes analysed were obtained from postmortems in 2016, with the men ranging in age from 16 to 88 when they died. “The impact on the younger generation might be more concerning” now that there is more plastic than ever in the environment, Yu said.
